Amblyomma rotundatum (Koch, 1844) (Acari: Ixodidae) two-host life-cycle on Viperidae snakes

Abstract

Amblyomma rotundatum is an ixodid tick that infests ectothermic animals and reproduces exclusively by parthenogenesis. This tick has been frequently reported to infest reptiles and amphibians, under natural conditions and sometimes in captivity. It was described in Brazil and several other countries of South, Central and North America. Although many studies have reported aspects of its biology, none of them has used regularly either ophidian as hosts, or controlled temperature, humidity and luminosity for parasitic stages. The objective of this experiment was to study the life cycle of A. rotundatum feeding on Viperidae snakes under room controlled conditions at 27 ± 1 °C temperature, 85 ± 10% relative humidity and 12:12 hours photoperiod for parasitic stages, and under B.O.D incubator conditions at 27 ± 1 °C temperature, 85 ± 10% relative humidity and scotophase for non-parasitic stages. The total duration of the life cycle ranged from 56 to 163 days (mean of 105 days). Two-host life cycle was observed for most of the ixodid population studied.Keywords: Amblyomma rotundatum, two-host, life-cycle, Bothrops, Viperidae. ResumoAmblyomma rotundatum é um carrapato da família Ixodidae, parasito de animais pecilotérmicos, e que se reproduz exclusivamente por partenogênese. Este carrapato é frequentemente relatado infestando répteis e anfíbios em condições naturais e, às vezes, em animais de cativeiro. Ele já foi relatado no Brasil e em vários outros países das Américas do Sul, Central e do Norte. Embora muitos estudos sobre sua biologia tenham sido publicados, nunca foram utilizados ofídios como hospedeiros e, tão pouco, foram realizados ensaios com os estádios parasitários sob condições controladas de temperatura, umidade e iluminação. O objetivo deste experimento foi estudar o ciclo biológico de A. rotundatum se alimentando em serpentes da família Viperidae sob condições ambientais controladas a 27 ± 1 °C de temperatura, 85 ± 10% de umidade relativa do ar e 12:12 horas de fotoperíodo para estágios parasitários; assim como sob condições iguais a 27 ± 1 °C de temperatura, 85 ± 10% de umidade relativa do ar e escotofase em estufas de germinação para estádios não parasitários. A duração total do ciclo de vida variou de 56 a 163 dias (média de 105 dias). Observou-se ciclo dioxênico para a a maior parte da população dos ixodídeos em estudo.Palavras-chave: Amblyomma rotundatum, dioxênico, ciclo biológico, Bothrops, Viperidae.

Ticks from the Brazilian Amazon: Species, Distribution and Host-Relations

“…The bioecology of this species under quasi-natural environment demonstrated a peak of larvae and nymphs in the dry season and females in the rainy season; however, there is a hypothesis of the absence of seasonality in this tick [48,49]. Although A. rotundatum is a three-host tick on amphibians, it can behave as a two-host tick when feeding on snakes [50]. The complete experimental life cycle, including preattachment periods for each parasitic stage, ranged from 126 to 228 days on toads [51] or 56 to 163 days on snakes [50] and ulcerative lesions and hemorrhages after A. rotundatum feeding [48] were reported for ticks collected on toads from the Cerrado biome.…”

“…Although A. rotundatum is a three-host tick on amphibians, it can behave as a two-host tick when feeding on snakes [50]. The complete experimental life cycle, including preattachment periods for each parasitic stage, ranged from 126 to 228 days on toads [51] or 56 to 163 days on snakes [50] and ulcerative lesions and hemorrhages after A. rotundatum feeding [48] were reported for ticks collected on toads from the Cerrado biome. Transmission of the hemogregarine Hemolivia stellata by R. marina collected in Belém, state of Pará was reported by Petit et al [52].…”

Ixodid Ticks (Arachnida: Acari) Prevalence Associated with Risk Factors in the Bovine Host in District Quetta, Baluchistan

“…Some tick species have retained a predilection for cold-blooded vertebrates. Amblyomma rotundatum (Koch, 1844) is an ixodid tick that infests ectothermic animals reported to infest reptiles and amphibians (Rodrigues et al, 2010). Ticks are generally of 3 types identified as hard ticks, soft ticks and Nuttalliella (the combination of hard and soft ticks) (Guglielmon et al, 2010).…”

New host records for Amblyomma rotundatum (Acari: Ixodidae) from Grussaí restinga, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…Amblyomma rotundatum Koch is a parthenogenetic tick (ARAGÃO, 1912;OBA;SCHUMAKER, 1983) commonly associated with species of reptiles and amphibians (DURDEN;KNAPP, 2005;PONTES et al, 2009;GUGLIELMONE;NAVA, 2010). Experimental studies have shown that during its life cycle, this species uses two or three different host species (OBA;SCHUMAKER, 1983;RODRIGUES et al, 2010). In addition, ticks can act as vectors of hemoparasites of the genera Hemolivia and Hepatozoon for frogs (PETIT et al, 1990;LAINSON et al, 2007), lizards (SMALLRIDGE;PAPERNA, 1997;PAPERNA et al, 2002) and turtles (PAPERNA, 2006;SIROKÝ et al, 2009).…”

“…In Brazil, except for the broad study by Pontes et al (2009) involving ticks associated with a community of snakes in the Atlantic Forest, most studies have been limited to recording parasitism of reptiles by ticks in random samples, usually restricted to a few individual specimens (LABRUNA et al, 2002(LABRUNA et al, , 2005DANTAS-TORRES et al, 2005MARTINS et al, 2007;LOPES et al, 2010), studies involving captive hosts (see review in GUGLIELMONE; NAVA, 2010), or characterization of the life cycle of ticks Amblyomma dissimile or A. rotundatum under experimental conditions (ARAGÃO, 1912;OBA;SCHUMAKER 1983;FREITAS et al, 2004;RODRIGUES et al, 2010).…”